WASHOE COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT

Transcription

1 WASHOE COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT DATE: August 15, 2014 AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DIVISION DIVISION DIRECTOR STAFF REPORT BOARD MEETING DATE: TO: FROM: District Board of Health Charlene Albee, Director , SUBJECT: Program Update FY15 Partnership Between AQM and UNR, Divisional Update Monthly Air Quality Index; Program Reports Monitoring & Planning and Permitting 1. Program Update a. FY15 Partnership Between AQM and UNR BEP July 1 st marks the beginning of the 2015 Fiscal Year and a continuation of the partnership between the Air Quality Management Division (AQMD) and the University of Nevada, Reno Nevada Small Business Development Center, Business Environmental Program (BEP). Utilizing funds received from the vehicle smog check program, AQMD has committed to continuing to support the administrative duties performed by BEP for the Woodstove Change- Out Program and the Fleets Project. An additional Woodstove Change-Out Program has been established to provide rebates for the removal of up to 20 uncertified woodstoves in Incline Village. The Tahoe Regional Planning Authority (TRPA) provided the funds for the consumer rebates and AQMD contributed funds to assist BEP with the associated administrative duties. Woodstove Change-Out Programs will now be available for the removal of a total of 217 uncertified woodstoves in Washoe County. BEP is also administering a woodstove change-out program for the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection for the Carson City and Douglas County area. The Fleets Project recognizes the expanding number and size of on-road truck and automobile fleets operating in Northern Nevada due to our ideal location as a distribution center for the West Coast. BEP will continue to work with AQMD and the Nevada Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Fleet Management Association (RMFMA) to enhance existing outreach, education, and technical assistance for fleet operations. In FY15, BEP has proposed to research, investigate, and assemble the necessary stakeholders to pursue re-designation for the Truckee Meadows region as a U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Coalition. Regional stakeholders that have expressed a strong interest in the Clean Cities Coalition include RMFMA, RTC, and members of the Northern Nevada Fleets Taskforce Advisory Committee. The partnership between AQMD and BEP has the potential to provide significant emission reductions for the citizens of Washoe County which supports our mission to Keep it Clean! 1001 EAST NINTH STREET / P.O. BOX 11130, RENO, NEVADA (775) FAX (775) WASHOE COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

2 Page 2 2. Divisional Update a. Below are two charts detailing the latest air quality information for the month of July. The top chart indicates the highest AQI by pollutant and includes the highest AQI from the previous three years in the data table for comparison. The bottom chart indicates the number of days by AQI category and includes the previous year to date for comparison. Please note AQI data are not fully verified and validated and should be considered preliminary. As such, they should not be used to formulate or support regulation, guidance, or any other governmental or public decision. For a daily depiction of the AQI data, please visit for the most recent AQI Summary.

3 Page 3 3. Program Reports a. Monitoring & Planning There were no exceedances of any National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) during July. The public comment period for the draft exceptional events demonstration for last year s American and Rim Fire episodes closed on July 31, AQMD is requesting EPA to exclude PM2.5 monitoring data that were affected by wildfire smoke when determining attainment for the NAAQS. The demonstration was submitted to EPA on August 6, Planning staff coordinated with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to share data and resources. Two State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions are being presented to the DBOH this month for adoption. The PM10 Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan demonstrates that control strategies targeting residential wood combustion, grading, and street sanding/sweeping have been effective in meeting the NAAQS. This PM10 SIP will supersede the SIP adopted by the DBOH and submitted to EPA in The carbon monoxide SIP demonstrates that the Truckee Meadows will continue to meet the NAAQS through Both of these SIPs update existing Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets which are used for transportation conformity analysis in RTC s long and short-range transportation plans. The AQMD s social media program began in July Here are some statistics and interesting facts from the first year. Facebook has 948 likes and Twitter has 194 followers. The YouTube channel has three videos promoting Bike to Work, School, and Fun Week. Key social media partners are the National Weather Service, local media (television, radio, and print), and the Washoe County School District. The most popular social media post was an air quality update during last year s Rim Fire. The second most popular post was an air quality alert due to wildfire smoke from northern California on August 5, Social media is a valuable tool that has improved our ability to deliver air quality information to the public.

4 Page 4 b. Permitting & Enforcement Type of Permit Renewal of Existing Air Permits July YTD July New Authorities to Construct Dust Control Permits 11 (112 acres) 72 (763 acres) 12 (62 acres) 105 (1420 acres) Wood Stove Certificates WS Dealers Affidavit of Sale WS Notice of Exemptions 9 (6 stoves 732 (11 stoves 59 (39 stoves 4115 (44 stoves 1 (1 replacement) 1185 (9 stoves 134 (83 replacement) 7346 (83 stoves Asbestos Assessments Asbestos Demo and Removal (NESHAP) Staff reviewed thirty-four (34) sets of plans submitted to the Reno, Sparks or Washoe County Building Departments to assure the activities complied with Air Quality requirements. The Permitting Section continues to document the business workflows in preparation for the Regional Permitting & Licensing Software Project. The Business Process spreadsheets have been finished. This will aid in the development of online submittals for applications, an improved tracking process for activities, and an automated inspection module for the enforcement staff. The Top Five record types have been identified and submitted to Technology Services. The development process includes a review of our agency s documents, receipts, permits, and reports. This process will help Technology Services to automate outdated forms and processes. Inspectors continue to monitor the progress of the installation of emissions control devices at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF). The SO 2 scrubber system remains on schedule and the facility has committed to an engine that will be installed for co-generation as part of the facility Ameresco Project improvements. The TMWRF will perform modeling of criteria pollutants as part of their application for a new operating permit. The modeling will be required to demonstrate the current sulfur dioxide impact has been mitigated and the predicted impacts from the new equipment will be in compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

5 Page 5 The job announcement for an Environmental Engineer I or II to fill the vacant Permitting Engineer has closed. Washoe County Human Resources was pleased to report a list of 15 qualified applicants was established. The grading of the required exams is complete and interviews have been scheduled for the 25 th and 26 th of August. 2014* 2013 COMPLAINTS July YTD July Asbestos Burning Construction Dust Dust Control Permit General Dust Diesel Idling Odor Spray Painting Permit to Operate Woodstove TOTAL NOV s July YTD July Warnings Citations TOTAL *Discrepancies in totals between monthly reports can occur due to data entry delays. Staff conducted forty-seven (47) stationary source renewal inspections in July Staff also conducted inspections on asbestos removal and construction/dust projects.